District 214 Students Qualify for National Forensic League Competition

Posted By District 214, Community Contributor

Fifteen High School District 214 students have qualified to participate in this year’s National Forensic League National Tournament in Kansas City, June 15-20. The students placed among the top competitors at a regional event, and now will compete in various speech, debate, and performance events.

Buffalo Grove High School senior Tracy Preza took first place and junior Zach Mellow captured second place in Lincoln-Douglas Debate. Senior Ani Biswas took second place in Extemporaneous Speaking, and junior Nijole Laverd placed second in Humorous Interpretation. These four students will join teammate Georgette Voss, who qualified for nationals in Dramatic Interpretation at a previous tournament.

John Hersey High School senior Michael Miller is only the second Hersey debater to earn a berth in debate’s most prestigious event. He competed in the Senate, which was reserved for the top speaker from each school. He also was honored when his legislation, “A Bill to Reform Federal Welfare,” was selected to represent the district at the national competition.

Elias Zenkich, Elk Grove High School junior, captured first place in Congressional Debate, and Alex Beck, Rolling Meadows High School senior, took third place in Domestic Extemporaneous.

Several Prospect High School students advanced to the national competition. Freshman Jimmy McDermott placed first in Dramatic Interpretation, sophomore Andrew Pittman captured first place in Humorous Interpretation, junior Chris Kivlahan took first place in Extemporaneous Speaking, sophomore Kit Fitzgerald and junior James Farquharson took first place in Duo Interpretation, and junior Allison O’Connor took second place in Original Oratory.

Wheeling High School senior Michael Onyszczak was named the top debater in the Senate at the NFL regional tournament. He is the 12th debater in WHS history to compete at nationals.